What Kids Really Need
Luke 15:12 … he set off and went [back] to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.
Being a parent is absolutely one of the most difficult and challenging things we can ever, ever do. And in part, that’s because there’s always a generation gap between parents and their children. We’re always parenting in a world, that’s so profoundly different to the one in which we grew up. It’s like that for every generation, and I guess in modern times, it’s become even worse, as the pace of change has increased.
I mean back when I was a kid, my parents worried that the TV show “Star Trek” was corrupting my mind. But these days, parents are dealing with the challenges of 24/7 connectivity – between their children and their peers, and, worse still, between their children and a pretty scary online world out there.
The things that children are into seem so normal to them, and yet, so scary to their parents. So how can we be great parents, when someone keeps moving the goal posts?
Children and teenagers are meant to be immature. God’s whole idea in giving them loving parents, is to provide them with a safe environment, where they can learn, by making mistakes.
Sometimes they’re small mistakes. Other times … well, anyone who’s had teenagers knows that sometimes we could ring their precious little necks. And then there are those times, when they leave us totally devastated.
But here’s the one thing – absolutely the most important thing – that our children need from us. They need to know that no matter how badly they’ve failed, they can always come home. They need to know that you’ll always hug them, that you’ll always love them, no matter what. It’s how it’s meant to be.
When Jesus was trying to explain what God’s like, He told the parable of the prodigal son. The son that took his inheritance, turned his back on his dad and went and blew it all in profligate living. But when, with a hungry belly, the young man finally came to his senses, Jesus tells us that:
… he set off and went [back] to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:12)
We parents, we don’t always get things right. There’s no definitive manual on parenting. And the world today is so different, and kids will always be kids. Teenagers will always be teenagers. Our young adult children will always be, well you know … our kids.
A father’s love, a mother’s love, is filled with compassion. It always, always forgives; it always embraces. That’s how it’s meant to be.
And that’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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